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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"
BACK="#ffffff" PTSIZE=10><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Allan,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I am not sure if I have misunderstood the
context of your email.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I fly pattern in </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>Australia</span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> in the FAI class. I am fast approaching
my forties and have been involved in pattern on and off for the past 23 years. My
longest break was for 12 years. Anyway I have flown pattern in the
pre-turnaround days. IMHO the best thing that ever happened to pattern was
change to turnaround.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Pattern has not died because the manoeuvres
are too difficult or pattern has become too expensive. Pattern is competing
against a lot of other hobbies to try and maintain a certain level of popularity.
20 years ago we never had helicopters which are as reliable and relatively
inexpensive as today. We never dreamt about 3D flying as it is know today, nor did
we have to huge interest in electric parkflyers and 3D aircraft we are currently
seeing. Add cable TV, Xboxes, Play stations and game-boys etc you can see what
is happening.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I don’t think pattern is any more
expensive than it was 20 years ago either when you take into account inflation
and what your dollar buys today. In some ways I think modelling today is better
value because the equipment is so much better.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Thinking that the old timers is going to
change things is a statement I don’t totally agree with. We must all move
on and enjoy what we are doing at a club level. If the newcomers to a club can
see how much fun you are having they may feel inclined to give it a go. The
best promotion I can give this hobby is to give fellow club members a fly on my
current 2m F3A models. Once they have a taste there usually hooked.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>No pun intended</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Just my thoughts</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>PP </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original
Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> discussion-request@nsrca.org
[mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>AWorrest@aol.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tuesday,
27 January 2004</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>7:19
AM</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> discussion@nsrca.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Artistic Aerobatics
suggestions</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;background:white'>I don't know what
the state of pattern is across the nation. I do know in my club and
several neighboring ones it has been dead for years. Pattern use to be
the major club event. After years of low local participation, the club
decided to replace the pattern contest with an open house fly-in. As
pattern has evolved, it has become increasingly difficult to interest new
people in it. <br>
<br>
Precision Aerobatics is an expensive, specialized sport. It is common to
see a Focus and the like being flown in Sportsman. How many Sig Kobras or
Four Stars are entered? Not many and not for long. <br>
<br>
Pattern aircraft lacks the attraction IMAC aircraft has with its scale like
appearance. Pattern aircraft are not expected to wow spectators with 3-D
maneuvers. Entry level pattern maneuvers are boring. The schedules
for the upper levels are too difficult for the casual flyer. <br>
<br>
After several failing attempts to re-interest the club in pattern, we were
successful when we put on a one-day, modified SPA contest. It really shouldn't
be called an SPA contest as the maneuvers were the only SPA-aspect we used.
The participation and the number of these events have grown over the past
three years. <br>
<br>
It was surprising how many former pattern fliers attended. One of them
commented that he dropped out of pattern when it went to the turnaround
schedule. The fly-by schedule is less stressful than the turnaround.
This imparts confidence to try more difficult and interesting maneuvers. <br>
<br>
One side benefit by bring back former pattern fliers, is that new people are
drawn in. These "old timers" are the club leaders. With
their participation, people not familiar with pattern are attracted. Most of
the planes entered have been sport aircraft. Modern pattern planes are
the exception. <br>
<br>
Allan Worrest <br>
NSRCA 2854 <br>
SPA 201 <br>
<br>
In a message dated 1/26/2004 11:42:49 AM Central Standard Time,
Eric.Henderson@gartner.com writes: <br>
<br>
<font color="#505050" BACK="#ffffff" PTSIZE=10 FAMILY=SANSSERIF><span
style='color:#505050'><br>
<br>
</span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><font size=2 color="#505050"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#505050;
background:white'>But what are you,(or we), going to do when you run out of
people to beat. Not because you (we) got better, but because no one competes
any more? <br>
<br>
The fact that Masters is usually the fullest class means that below Masters is
thin on the ground and above Masters is even thinner. (Ask yourself what was
the average FAI field in D1 for FAI in 2003? Was it 2 or a decimal of that) <br>
<br>
The object of this discussion exercise is not to analytically tear up every
idea but to recognize the issues and propose solutions. If I can get our
collective minds to think about growth we might have a healthy sport to hand
over to the next generation? <br>
<br>
What should be next? If it's a return to former specification limits then
that's an idea to consider? <br>
<br>
Regards, <br>
<br>
Eric. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><font size=2 color="#505050"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#505050;
background:white'><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
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